Former NFL GM Sounds Off on Mike Tomlin: ‘You Have No Identity’

The Steelers seem to be in free fall. They fell short to another two-win team in their 21-18 loss to the New England Patriots on Thursday. It was a loss that underlined many areas they struggled against the Cardinals. But two areas, the most essential areas on offense and defense in particular, stood above the rest as worrisome. Mike Tomlin has the team out of sorts.

But it might be those basic things that make it all the more questionable how they even got to this point. But Tomlin’s statement of ‘this is who we are’ after the game drew plenty of side glances, and for plenty of solid reasons. Pittsburgh faltered to bad teams, and they seemingly have nothing to build upon. That is what former Steelers executive and Buffalo Bills general manager Doug Whaley believes, too.

“He said this is what they do and this is what they’ve done is at home get beat by inferior teams,” Whaley said on our partner, WPXI’s Black and Gold Show. “Then he said this is who we are. Tell me, coach, who are you? Who are you on offense? Who are you on defense? Offense, you have no identity. Defense, the strength of your team has let your team team down the last two games. So to me, when he says those statements, I’ve got to have a follow-up question. Please explain more because I don’t know. The fans don’t know and the biggest question is do the people in that locker room know who they are?”

Pittsburgh has struggled mightily over the last two weeks. When the basic details get thrown out the door, it’s hard to build a house without a foundation to work with in that respect. The quarterback play is terrible. And all of that bad coaching and play reflects back on Mike Tomlin as the head coach.